The Apprentice’s Lottie Lion has apologised after she took to Instagram live and referred to Lord Sugar as an ‘actual racist’.
The former contestant, who made headlines in 2019 for allegedly making racist remarks herself, took part in the online chat with fellow ex-candidate Ryan Mark Parsons over the weekend, where she threw shade at the former Amstrad boss, as well as another of last year’s stars Jemelin Artigas.
Three sheets to the wind on wine, Lottie, 20, mocked Venezuelan-born Jemelin’s accent and said: ‘If we’re going to talk about f**king racists, let’s talk about Lord Sugar. He’s an actual racist!’
Live on the wine: The Apprentice’s Lottie Lion has apologised after she took to Instagram live and referred to Lord Sugar as an ‘actual racist’
On Sunday, however, she and Ryan Mark told MailOnline: ‘We impersonated various candidates from The Apprentice on our Instagram live on Friday. We are aware one candidate has taken offence and can only apologise.
‘Our intention was to lighten the spirits of our fans, through dancing, singing and answering questions about The Apprentice.’
According to a video sent to Jemelin and shared by her to Twitter, Lottie said of Jemelin – who moved to the UK when she was 16-years-old – that she is ‘the most illegitimate person I think I know’.
She then appeared to impersonate her Venezuelan accent, saying: ’18 years ago I moved to this country and it’s like I didn’t even speak the language, all I did was clean toilets.’
Beef: The former contestant, who made headlines in 2019 for allegedly making racist remarks herself, threw shade at the former Amstrad boss
Bristolian Lottie then added: ‘It’s like, darling, we all started from nothing – I started from nothing.’
Ryan Mark appeared to gasp at this, to which Lottie waved around her wine glass and blamed it on the booze.
‘That’s what happens when I have too much wine!’ she joked.
Her Lord Sugar comments were a reference to his Twitter post in 2018, when he shared a photo of the Senegal football team during the World Cup, and compared them to people who sell goods on the beaches of Marbella.
He was forced to apologise and remove the tweet at the time, which read: ‘I recognise some of these guys from the beach in Marbella. Multi tasking resourceful chaps!’
![Throwing shade: Lottie and Ryan Mark Parsons [pictured second left] also made a pop at Jemelin Artigas [second right]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/03/11/27946708-8282039-Lottie_and_Ryan_Mark_Parsons_pictured_second_left_also_made_a_po-a-57_1588503026941.jpg)
Throwing shade: Lottie and Ryan Mark Parsons [pictured second left] also made a pop at Jemelin Artigas [second right]
Removed: Her Lord Sugar comments were a reference to his Twitter post in 2018, when he shared a photo of the Senegal football team during the World Cup, and compared them to people who sell goods on the beaches of Marbella
On Saturday, Ryan Mark, Lottie and Jemelin, all took to Twitter to post responses to the Instagram live.
Jemelin tweeted a clip of the video and captioned this: ‘The level of immaturity everyone should see! I even forgot she existed but some how she can’t get me out of her head!
‘See how she takes the p**s of my accent and my story! She is vile… but it’s ok you keep talking about me hun but maybe it’s time you grow up and get a life!
‘Imitating someone’s accent while bluntly mocking them is racist! If you did it between friends as a joke and for a laugh definitely not. But to mock them and take the p**s of their story when they are not there it is! Lotie Lion is the biggest racist!’
Lottie tweeted: ‘Myself & @ryanmarkparsons did impressions of 6 candidates on The Apprentice last night, that included US, Essex, Mancunian, Irish, etc. Due to the fact that I ALSO did an impression of a Venezuelan candidate, I’m now being accused of racism again. That doesn’t add up to me.
Three sheets to the wind: Lottie, 20, mocked Venezuelan-born Jemelin’s accent and said – ‘If we’re going to talk about f**king racists, let’s talk about Lord Sugar. He’s an actual racist!’
‘Doing these impressions of The Apprentice candidates last night was only meant to be some light entertainment for my fans during these difficult times. I’m aware that an individual HAS taken offence, and I can only apologise.’
Ryan Mark posted: ‘I wanted to issue an apology to @JemelinArtigas. It’s clear she has been affected by Lottie’s impersonation & my laughter. Our intention of the Instagram live was not to upset anyone.’
To which Jemelin replied: ‘Thanks for apologising. I understand you were both enjoying your live and that’s ok but mocking other people shouldn’t be part of the fun, but it takes a lot of maturity to [apologise] and I appreciate that.’
Controversy! Lottie is said to have referred to another contestant – Lubna Farhan – as ‘Gandhi’, telling her to ‘shut up’, adding ‘ I’ll f**k you up’ and threatening her with an ‘upper cut to the jaw’
Homophobic? Lottie was also accused of making remarks about gay candidate Riyonn Farsad
Lottie was caught up in reports of behind-the-scenes race rows and homophobia during last year’s The Apprentice.
She is said to have referred to another contestant – Lubna Farhan – as ‘Gandhi’, telling her to ‘shut up’, adding ‘I’ll f**k you up’ and threatening her with an ‘upper cut to the jaw’.
Lottie was also accused of making homophobic remarks about gay candidate Riyonn Farsad.
She was consequently banned from The Apprentice sister shows You’re Fired and You’re Hired.